I took the C6 Corvette Autocrossing! (What a Blast - Here's What I Learned!)

[@homer23422000]

I've autocrossed for 4 years straight quite a few years ago, and it was a blast! I have a few pro tips for you. 1. The driver mod is the most important modification you can do to get faster, if your racing skills are low/bad because you're new, you shouldn't worry about modifying your car at all. 2. If you don't have your own racing or motorcycle helmet and you want to do at least a full season of autocross (8 events in one year) and track days/other performance driving, get one. The comfort of not having other people's sweat on your head and the helmet fitting you is well worth it, especially if you get a budget helmet. 3. Corvettes and 911s are among the most expensive sports cars to autocross (along with Vipers) because the tires are so wide that you can pay up to 3x what an STR prepped NB Miata driver would pay, so keep that in mind. 4. Bring a few tools with you, a torque wrench and a tire gauge is all you need in the beginning. A cooler for ice cold water and other drinks is also necessary during the hot season. 5. The key to getting the best life out of tires for autocross, when you get fast, is to get a second set of wheels for your race tires and mount that set of wheels and race tires on either at the site or at home the day before if you live close enough for that to be feasable. For your front-engine rear wheel drive car, you'll also need to consider getting two pairs of rear wheels to have 285s all around for more front grip and so you can rotate the tires to make them last for a few more events. That's why you will occasionally see a Miata or a Corvette with a tow hitch on it.

[@Toys4Life]

Great tips - thanks!!

[@xnadave]

@@Toys4Life Note that, if you want to do real track days, don't get a motorcycle helmet. No club that's concerned with safety allow you on a real track with a motorcycle helmet. (Unless, of course, you're on a motorcycle.)

[@Toys4Life]

Snell SA 2020 rated it is!

[@justinlanglais9825]

I've had my C6 for 5 years.... time to do that !!!

[@Toys4Life]

Indeed 👍

[@JS-pe9xk]

Great vid. Welcome to the autoxaddiction. Suggest downloading track addict and pairing with standalone GPS. I know you are a data guy and this is a cheap way to get TONS of data to compare runs. C6Z guy here.

[@brucejohnson1712]

Another great video. This is another event that would be great fun.

[@isaacbeasley3302]

Appreciate the STEEL shirt. Great video!

[@Akac3sh]

sick man. Can’t wait to make it to this point

[@ronjeyer3089]

My first auto x experience I got 1rst in class higher than mine, got my only troffee, was accidently placed in a higher class, but not complaining, after that I did more auto x and road coarse racing

[@racerd9669]

Ken I agree autoX can be big fun, only problem compared to drag racing, is you have so few events. Where drag racing you can race every weekend. GREAT vid, I am sure you will get some Corvette owners to go try it out.

[@rapid13]

Dunno man, there’s one just about every weekend here in Ohio.

[@swiftripper7557]

Maybe check to see if there's more organizers around you. Depends on the area I guess but you may find more if you search

[@johnschutt9187]

That sure looks like fun. I've been at autocrosses, but never run one.

[@Toys4Life]

Your turn is next!

[@shredandenjoy7311]

Looking at you in the C6 out there, it looks like you maybe didn't know the little seatbelt trick for these cars! Move the seat back slightly from your ideal position. Then, pull the seat belt all the way out. The seat belt will now only retract. Pull it snug on your body, then adjust the seat forward to REALLY snug yourself in place. Good job getting out there!

[@Toys4Life]

You know, I did that on a couple of the runs but I think I forgot for a couple as well as it's not something you do everyday. It helps for sure, good suggestion!! 🙂

[@colemcmeans7809]

sweet! you might leave the trac control on for a few events but dont be afraid to put it in comp mode, the asm will keep you from getting to out of shape. best thing besides seat time is tires! sign up for a track day, that's even better!

[@Toys4Life]

Makes sense to me - I am going to try this! Thanks!

[@doolallyproductions7234]

I can't wait to go auto cross my car I still need some fender flares for my z06 wheels and some new rotors and I'll be ready

[@Firebert79TA]

Great job getting out there! I can think of a lot of car setup related content that might come from this, but I think the most important thing to emphasize is just starting. The driver is almost always the part in need of the most improvement from the beginning. But I am looking forward to potential videos about stuffing more rubber in the front, square setups to extend tire life, and aggressive front end alignments also necessary for extending tire life and finding speed. Once a driver/owner starts taking curves, he can get away from the power-hungry straight-line mindset. Autocross is relatively gentle on a car. No shock to the drivetrain like with a sticky drag launch and none of the elevated temperatures and forces from road racing. Any fairly modern car in good working order can go autocross. Older muscle cars and hot rods take some more preparation, so just getting those cars to survive is its own fun. If you have a car you like to drive, go try autocross!

[@Toys4Life]

100% agree- thank you!

[@BillWervey]

Thank you for the great comments, I’ve considered this many times, but done nothing. I may actually get out there and give it a try. I do need to mention, however that Porsche is a two syllable word. 😊

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for chiming in, I hope you make it out there, and thank you for correcting my English (:-)

[@ronjeyer3089]

This is Ron, with blue corvette in Farmington

[@Toys4Life]

Hey Ron, good to see you're still corvetting!

[@ronjeyer3089]

If saint cloud allows racing on it anymore, there is an inner track that is the ultimate auto cross course

[@keepamerica2astrong280]

Great vid. I have to try that ! Looking up courses in SC Where is this ?

[@Toys4Life]

MN - find an event with a decent track/course!

[@ronjeyer3089]

A far as road coarse go, I thought mid america motorplex in Iowa, was closest that I have been where the road coarse was flat on most corners, resembling auto cross

[@billyoung4045]

I've run the last 3 Corvettes on Minn events, at the DCTC track, in my '06 C6 ATX Coupe. Great fun. I run most all the track in 2nd gear. This didn't look like the last CoM event. Was it? The fast guys seem to be in the low 60 seconds, maybe get up over 80mph on the longer crooked straight, on the last configuration.

[@Toys4Life]

This was a MN Autosport event.

[@darrylsjodin7184]

You wrote in the heading that your friend’s C5Z06 has an M6 gearbox. I’ve heard the C5Z has the M12 the base model manual has the M6. Maybe you know more about it?

[@Toys4Life]

You are correct. C5z has M12- closer lower gear ratios. Good catch!!

[@darrylsjodin7184]

@@Toys4Life Thanks for the video and the response! Auto crossing looks like a safer way to track my car! Thanks for the idea😀

[@ericervin4778]

Are helmets available for rent? Or do you have to bring your own?

[@Toys4Life]

Depends on the group. My group rents them but yours might not - their website will say.

[@ericervin4778]

Got you. Thanks.

[@ruleslawyer]

Stability control is ultimately a crutch. Yes as a newbie it will help you get around the course, but it really masks what the car is doing. You want to work towards turning it off. Luckily autocross is a low risk environment so NBD if you spin a few times while learning how to run with it off. Once you have it down there is no better feeling than when you can feel the car moving under you and you can just keep it balanced there on the edge. Keep at it.

[@Toys4Life]

I believe you are correct with regards to Active Handling (Stab Cntrl) and a seasoned driver. I think it would be wise for everyone to leave ABS on - (you would have to pull a fuse to actually disable it) would you agree?

[@ruleslawyer]

@@Toys4Life Yes, no reason to ever disable ABS for autocross or road course work.

[@mwp1088]

I laughed out loud when you said you get motion sickness on a kids swing 😂. How was the wear and tear on the brakes? Did you need to do a fluid swap?

[@Toys4Life]

Brakes do well - stops are from 60 to 30 generally or there abouts..